George A. Heckman, MD, MSc, FRCPC, McMaster University, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, ON.
Catherine Demers, MD, MSc, FRCPC, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
David B. Hogan, MD, FCRPC, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
Robert S. McKelvie, MD, PhD, FRCPC, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
The burden of heart failure is rapidly rising. Heart failure is associated with substantial mortality, morbidity, and economic cost, which disproportionately affect older adults. Heart failure among older individuals is frequently complicated by geriatric syndromes, including frailty, functional decline, cognitive impairment, and atypical clinical presentations. Understanding the nature of these geriatric syndromes and their impact on the assessment and management of heart failure is a critical component to diagnosing and delivering appropriate care to these patients. In this article we review the geriatric aspects of heart failure.
Key words: geriatric syndrome, heart failure, older adults, diagnosis, frailty.
